Ford Tests Super Duty Cargo Boxes with Aftermarket Equipment

If you had any worries about the all-new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty aluminum-alloy cargo box, don’t be. Ford is testing all types of aftermarket equipment to make sure its bed is really Ford Tough with some popular types of equipment in both virtual and real world testing. From ATV platforms to salt spreaders, your 2017 Super Duty will be ready for work or play when it is released in 2016.

When Ford announced that they would switch to aluminum-alloy rather than steel in the 2017 F-Series Super Duty bed, many cried foul and stated that the aluminum can will crush under heavy use these trucks see.

Well, Ford is working hard to put that thought to bed literally by testing several different types of aftermarket equipment these trucks will see in use. Everything from glass racks to hydraulic lift gates are all being tested.

Instead of going straight to real world testing, engineers start on the computer using “supercomputers” to predict and engineer cargo box robustness.

Kirk Leonard, vehicle integration engineer for Ford stated, “Our team of vehicle integration engineers worked together to develop a unique design approach with the Ford Truck Body Engineering team to drive optimized panel shape, added reinforcements and up-gauged materials into the pickup box – all of which were proved beneficial in our evaluation.”

John Comiez, Ford body structure engineer added, “Our modeling analysis enabled us to improve the structure and strength of the box in the design phase of the truck.”

After the thousands of hours of simulated work of each aftermarket piece, they move to the Ford Proving Grounds for real world testing.

“Ford Super Duty customers depend on their trucks to work hard every day across a variety of jobs,” said Leonard, “We drove prototype vehicles over the durability roads of the Ford Proving Grounds fitted with common aftermarket accessories to test the fitment and capability of our toughest pickup box ever.“

Thanks to the use of high-strength steel and high-strength aluminum alloy, weight has been reduced by up to 350 pounds. That gives engineers additional weight savings everywhere it counts to give customers more towing and hauling capability than ever before.